Chifley Police expand resources across Lithgow LGA for Operation Stay at Home

That's the message from Chifley Police District Acting Superintendent Commander Bruce Grassick on Operation Stay at Home.

"I make no apologies for this, we will be enforcing the Public Health Order to the letter and that means if you are non-compliant, expect to be infringed and or have a court attendance notice," he said.

Since the COVID-operation came into effect at midnight on Monday, Supt Grassick said police have doubled-down on their efforts in the Lithgow LGA.

"Aside from the current RBT site and checkpoint on the Great Western Highway in Lithgow, which is supported by Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, we also have mobile patrols working the GWH and Castlereagh Highway and other major roads feeding into Lithgow," he said.

He said there were also designated police assigned to COVID-compliance operations.

"That's purely their stand alone work and will be around any public health order compliance including work with Transport NSW and State Rail in relation to movement of parties in our coach systems and trains."

Supt Grassick said all his resources were deployed across the entire police district dealing with COVID-compliance and normal day-to-day duties.

"Our focus and our priorities are on the COVID- compliance operations currently running and will be running for the next 21 days," he said.

He said there was a vast majority of people in the community who are doing the right thing and only a small number that are not.

"Those who are not [doing the right thing] are causing a headache and potentially bringing the virus into our community," he said.

"We really need to jump on those situations where people are non-compliant. We need the community to work with the police in that space to identify those non-compliant parties and we will deal with them accordingly."

Supt Grassick said anyone who was travelling around the area must carry identification with them and evidence of what they are doing.

"It is a requirement out of the public health order for them to carry identification with them when they exercise or do something recreational away from their home.

"For argument's sake, if they go to a medical appointment just have that notification from the medical practice ready to show us, anything that is provided to police will be double checked and if it's inaccurate, and false information has been provided, they will be infringed accordingly," he said.

He said when the permit system comes in, it wouldn't affect people within regional NSW.

"It only affects Greater Sydney residents coming into regional New South Wales."

Supt Grassick encouraged people to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 to provide information that may assist police.

"It's serious business at the end of the day," he said.

"We're talking about people's safety. We're talking about people's health. We're talking about the potential that people can die from this virus."

He also wanted to recognise the hard work going on in the police district to keep the community safe.

"It's a joint operation between our police district and Traffic and Highway Patrol and they are doing a lot of heavy lifting in relation to this operation. My gratitude goes out to all police involved."

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